A 31-year-old Whanganui man allegedly choked a police dog until it was unconscious during an incident in central Auckland yesterday.
The man faces a raft of charges after the event.
Senior Sergeant Dave Plunkett said the man was a disqualified driver who “allegedly fled police, crashed onto railway lines, and strangled a police dog”.
“The dangerous 20-minute-long event started at about 12.10am on Sunday, when police signalled for a vehicle to stop in central Auckland,” Plunkett said.
“The vehicle fled and was tracked by the Police Eagle helicopter as it drove through Mount Albert and into Avondale, hitting several parked cars on the way.
“After the vehicle crashed onto railway lines off the St Georges Road level crossing, the sole occupant left the vehicle and was confronted by a police dog unit.
“As he was being subdued, the individual allegedly began strangling the canine, causing it to lose consciousness.”
The “short-lived but dangerous” incident ended when the dog’s handler and a sergeant rushed in and freed the dog from the alleged offender’s grip.
“The dog regained consciousness in time to help complete the arrest,” Plunkett said.
“The man was taken into custody at the scene and received medical treatment for bites to his leg and arms.
“The police dog was taken to the vet to be assessed, but thankfully suffered only minor injuries.”
The man is set to appear in Auckland District Court today facing “serious” charges including two counts of assaulting police, two counts of resisting police, dangerous driving, failing to stop, injuring a police dog, driving while disqualified, and endangering the safety of rail employees and trains within a rail corridor.
